Palouse to Cascades Trail - Rattlesnake Lake, West Ridge Trail, Southside Trail, Cedar Butte & Olallie State Park - Olallie Trail — Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017

This was a FIVE TRAIL LOOP around CEDAR BUTTE. Our group of senior hikers in their '60's, '70's and '80's began our hike from the Cedar Falls Trailhead in the Iron Horse State Park on the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. We hiked up the JWPT on the former Milwaukee Road railroad grade for 2 miles to the start of the new Olallie Trail. This new trail was opened on July 29th this past summer and goes up the west ridge of Mt. Washington to Change Creek for 9.2 miles. The trail was built over two years by State Parks at a cost of $1.16 million along with help from the Evergreen Mtn. Bike Alliance and Mountains-to-Sound Greenway. We hiked up a few switchbacks on the lower section of the trail. Part way up we had a view through the trees out to Little Si. When we got up to the West Ridge of Mt. WA. we arrived at the unsigned/unmarked junction with the old West Ridge Trail. This was the way up Mt. WA. prior to the trail off I-90 at Exit 38. At the junction we headed down hill on the WRT, crossed an old logging railroad grade from the days when the North Bend Lumber Co. logged this area from 1905 to 1923. Their sawmill was down at present day Rattlesnake Lake. When we got to a flat section the WRT meets the Southside Trail (it is on the south side of Cedar Butte) we took this trail as it makes its way along some small ponds. Past the ponds the trail makes a sharp left turn and goes up a steep hill for about 50 yards, then continues going up and down on its way to Saddle Jct. and the Cedar Butte Trail.

When we got to Saddle Jct. it was about lunch time so we used some of the fallen trees for benches while eating. After lunch we headed up the Cedar Butte trail to the summit at 1,860' where we had some nice views up the Middle Fork Snoq. River Valley on this sunny day. Mailbox Peak is just north of I-90. We took some photos then headed back to Saddle Jct. From the junction our group took the Boxley Blowout Loop Trail on the way back down the Cedar Butte Trail to the JWPT and a one mile hike to the parking lot.

The West Ridge and Southside Trails are not for the casual hiker, as some people could get lost. Route finding skills are good for these trails. There were a few trees down over these trails and the lower portion of the Boxley Blowout Loop needs to be brushed out. We only saw two other hikers all day, at Saddle Jct., so no crowds on our hike. This loop hike, plus going to the summit of the butte is 6.5 miles with about 1,000' gain. Note that the old West Ridge and Southside Trails are not shown on hiking maps or in guide books. Hikers could use the new Olallie Trail to get up Mt. WA. but it is 16 miles round trip. This trail is open to hikers, mtn.. bikers and horse riders. Our group had a nice time hiking some new/old trails, as only two of us had done this loop hike in the past. At the trailhead kiosk check out the history information on the Milwaukee Road Railroad, the silk trains and the Boxley Blowout.